Palm Beach high school results and schedules

January 28, 2014|Staff reports

Minutes into his first meeting, Kevin Fleury asked his players what they want to accomplish.

He heard answers like, "winning," "a scholarship" and "being successful." Fleury told his players those were great answers. But the real answer is to graduate. That is why John I. Leonard administration was happy Monday when Fleury accepted its offer to become the school's next football coach.

Fleury, who spent the last two seasons at Olympic Heights, said family was a large reason why he took the position.

"We live in Jupiter and making that drive to Boca every day is a little stressful," said Fleury, who lives in the north Palm Beach County city with his wife and two children. "On Friday nights I would have to stay at a coach's house after the game. Now, I am not that far away. I can go home on a Friday night and come back on Saturday morning."

Fleury said his start date will come within the next few weeks. In the interim, he'll be handling the National Signing Day duties at Olympic Heights.

He spent two seasons at Olympic Heights going 7-3 in his first season. Olympic Heights finished 2-8 last year under Fleury.

Prior to Olympic Heights, he was a defensive coordinator at Cardinal Newman. Fleury rose to prominence in 2005 winning a state championship with Palm Beach Gardens.

"He's a proven winner," said Leonard athletic director Scott Siegel. "He has won a state championship and he went to Olympic Heights and turned that program around. Second thing is he is someone who can develop student-athletes. We felt like those were two intangibles we wanted."

— Ryan S. Clark

University School hires new football coach

University School has hired Phoenix Christian (Ariz.) Prep coach Brandon Harris as its new football coach, athletic director Paul Herfurth said Monday.

Harris, 46, replaces Roger Harriott, who resigned a month ago to become an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic.

Harris has 19 years of college and high school coaching experience. He has coached future NFL players including safety Mike Brown, receivers Bobbie Wade and Zack Miller and quarterback Tim Rattay.

"He's had a lot of success building and maintaining successful championship type programs," Herfurth said, adding that Harris is scheduled to arrive Feb. 10. "We're really excited about having him."

Harris' first major task will be keeping the roster that remains intact. Several players from University's 2013 team have transferred since Harriott's departure.